Coronavirus: Delta variant now predominant in São Paulo city

The Delta variant (lineage B.1.617.2, sublineages AY) of the novel coronavirus has become prevalent in São Paulo, the country’s most populous city.

A study conducted in a collaboration between the Butantan Institute and the city of São Paulo found that, of the samples where identifying the lineage is possible, 69.7 percent stem from the Delta variant and 28.4 percent from the Gama variant. The sequencing refers to epidemiological week 33 (August 15–21), carried out by Butantan, Brazil’s main producer of immuno-biologicals.

“The presence of the Delta variant in the municipality of São Paulo, as well as other variants of the novel coronavirus (Alpha, Beta, Gama), raises concerns regarding the high transmissibility and the decrease of the efficiency of the social and public health measures. The Municipal Health Secretariat recommends that all individual preventive measures be kept rigorously,” the city hall stated in a note.

The authorities stressed that, despite the presence of the Delta variant in the city, the number of COVID-19 cases has not shown a significant growth curve. The new lineage, the note says, does not pose an impact risk on the capital city’s public hospitals.

The epidemiological report released Thursday (Sep. 2) by the city hall shows that, since the pandemic started, 37,160 people have died due to the disease in the city. Approximately 1.8 million people needed to be hospitalized at a public hospital and recovered. The local population aged 18 and older with the vaccination cycle complete now totals 5,168,616—53 percent of the total.